Art and music are combining for a special concert in the grounds of Langford at the Walcha Mountain Festival on Sunday, October 21. Singer-songwriter Hester Fraser (Goldheist) will perform with visual artist James Needham in the concert event REALM a collaborative performance that combines storytelling, music and painting. After a few drinks in early June last year, Needham claimed he could paint landscapes in under an hour, and stated that musicians were lucky they could perform in front of their audience as opposed to the boring life of a studio-bound artist. Ms Fraser called his bluff and Goldheist and Needham are now touring regional galleries until November. Combining their respective artistic practices, Needham will paint landscape, as inspired by tour locations, whilst Goldheist provides the soundtrack, fusing her narrative songs with electro -acoustic soundscapes. Simultaneously curated and improvisational, this spatially motivated performance will explore the spirit of place and the different ways our surrounds can inspire and impact us. Goldheist has shared her songs and stories with audiences across metropolitan and regional Australia, telling tales of love, life and adventure, painting vibrant pictures of the Australian bush, current affairs and events. Her most recent performances include a concert for VIVID Festival in 2018 at the Art Gallery of NSW and the launch of her latest album Realm at the Sydney Opera House in 2017. James Needham lives and works in Sydney. He studied at the Oxfordshire College of Art in the UK and Sydney’s National Art School. His influences range from early realists Courbet and Manet, to contemporary artists such as Lucian Freud, Eric Fischl and Liu Xiaodong. Local musical collaboration – the Grimlings ( a combination of members from the Grim Brothers and The Foundlings) will also perform. Food and beverage vendors will be open throughout the day, and there will be plenty of free children’s activities and market stalls. The classic car display is back, and this year it will also include motorbikes, engines and chainsaws. There will be hourly guided tours of Langford House, and model boats from acclaimed scale model builder Russ French will be on display on the dam. The fun starts on Saturday October 20, with the PKF Road Ride Challenge, the Walcha Farmers’ Markets in McHattan Park and the Billy Cart Challenge followed by live music at the Commercial Hotel. The popular Quilt Exhibition opens on Friday night in Langford’s Woolshed and will remain open on Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 4pm.

Goldheist and James Needham will take us on a magical Sunday journey

SURREALIST SINGER: Hester Fraser (aka Goldheist) in front of one of Needham's works.

Art and music are combining for a special concert in the grounds of Langford at the Walcha Mountain Festival on Sunday, October 21.

KEEPING IT REAL: James Needham at work on a portrait in his studio. He is enjoying producing landscape work en plein air during the Realm tour with Goldheist.

Singer-songwriter Hester Fraser (Goldheist) will perform with visual artist James Needham in the concert event REALM a collaborative performance that combines storytelling, music and painting.

After a few drinks in early June last year, Needham claimed he could paint landscapes in under an hour, and stated that musicians were lucky they could perform in front of their audience as opposed to the boring life of a studio-bound artist. Ms Fraser called his bluff and Goldheist and Needham are now touring regional galleries until November.

Simultaneously curated and improvisational, this spatially motivated performance will explore the spirit of place and the different ways our surrounds can inspire and impact us.

this spatially motivated performance will explore the spirit of place

Goldheist has shared her songs and stories with audiences across metropolitan and regional Australia, telling tales of love, life and adventure, painting vibrant pictures of the Australian bush, current affairs and events.

Her most recent performances include a concert for VIVID Festival in 2018 at the Art Gallery of NSW and the launch of her latest album Realm at the Sydney Opera House in 2017.

James Needham lives and works in Sydney. He studied at the Oxfordshire College of Art in the UK and Sydney’s National Art School. His influences range from early realists Courbet and Manet, to contemporary artists such as Lucian Freud, Eric Fischl and Liu Xiaodong.

Local musical collaboration – the Grimlings ( a combination of members from the Grim Brothers and The Foundlings) will also perform.

REALM art and music - exploring the spirit of place

Food and beverage vendors will be open throughout the day, and there will be plenty of free children’s activities and market stalls.

The classic car display is back, and this year it will also include motorbikes, engines and chainsaws. There will be hourly guided tours of Langford House, and model boats from acclaimed scale model builder Russ French will be on display on the dam.

The fun starts on Saturday October 20, with the PKF Road Ride Challenge, the Walcha Farmers’ Markets in McHattan Park and the Billy Cart Challenge followed by live music at the Commercial Hotel. The popular Quilt Exhibition opens on Friday night in Langford’s Woolshed and will remain open on Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 4pm.